Bubble plate for contacting gases and liquids



Nov. 8, 1938. H. KUHNI 2,136,139

BUBBLE PLATE FOR commune GASES AND LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

Nov. 8, 1938. H. KUHNI 2,136,139

BUBBLE PLATE FOR CONTACTING GASES AND LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flg .3.

m n 0 m m n m n n 0 Q m 0 n I n f- Patented Nov. s, 1938 UNITED .STATES BUBBLE PLATE FOR CONTACTING GASES AND'LIQUIDS' Hans Kiihni, Basel, Switzerland, assignor to L Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et lEx-' ploitation des Procedw Georges Claude, Paris.

France Application January 22, 1936,. Serial No.-60 ,312 In Switzerland January 24, 1935 comma.

each chimney and'the corresponding cap and at 'last escapes through openings, that are provided at the lower part of the caps, in order to be subjected to a contact as intimate as possible with the liquid which is conducted to the tray from the 1 plate next above.

Thepresent invention relates to bubble plates or partitions with chimneys and corresponding caps and aims to avoid the risk of the gas exit openings of-the caps becoming clogged and to simultaneously obtain a high rectifying eflect by means of aspecial manner of discharging the gas into the liquid of the plate. To this effect, the side walls of the chimneys are inclined downwards to the bottom of the plate and placed in annular nozzle in which the gas passage between them becomes progressively narrower towards the horizontal gas exit opening, which is continuously 30 open or by places interrupted and has advantageously a width of at most 3 mm., so that the gas is projected against the bottom of the "plate in form oi an inclined annular jet and with such a speed through saidoutlet' or exit opening of the 35 ring nozzle that while sweeping the bottom surface in a thin layer an intimate contact between gas and liquid is efiected and simultaneously any solid deposit is avoided. j

The chimneys may be annular and in this cas'e an annular channel for receiving the liquid is formed between two opposite chimneys.

The accompanying drawings illustrate two examples of devices embodying the objectpi the present invention and show, in vertical section 4.5 (Figs. 1 and 3) parts of cylindrical columns comprising superimposed plates and in top view. (Figs. 2 and 4) a part of a plate of said columns, whereby in both cases a vapor is used as contacting with a number of superimposed plates AHA, A which are mounted upon radial bars a. Each of the plates presents annular troughshaped channels b b, that are riveted to the 55 In the Figures 1 and 2 the column is provided bars and are placed concentrically around an overflow pipe c, situated in the centre 01 the plate and are separated by a certain distance the one from the other. The channels 17 b form between them annular chimneys d d", d for the 'distribution of the vapor issuing from below. An- 5 molar caps e e. e are disposed over the chimneys for reversing the flow of the ascending gases and distribute them. These caps, which rest on the walls of the elements b b, are maintained in position by means of bolts 72. attached to the bars a so as to form a solid framing. Their side walls are so formed at their lower edge as to reserve an opening e for the outlet and distribution of the gas. The side walls of the chimneys d d 11 which are inclined owing to the trough-shaped 15 form of the channels b b, are so placed in relation to the side .walls of the caps that they form with the latter an upright ring nozzle which progressively becomes narrower in direction of the gas exit opening, the latter being continuously open or interrupted by places hoi'izontally round about and having advantageously a width of at most 3 mm.

Thanks to this particular construction of the chimneys and caps the gas flowing from below through the chimneys d d, d is delivered in the form of an oblique, substantiallyuninterrupted annular jet through the horizontal opening of advantageously 3 mm. width with an increased speed against the bottom of the annular channels formed between two opposite chimneys and receiving'theliquid; thereby an intimate contact I between gas and liquid is obtained and any deposits in the channels are simultaneously prevented, for the speed of the vapor uniformly dis-- tributed into the liquid and sweeping the liquid from below along the whole bottom surface of the plate in form of a thin layer causes such an ascending movement that also the solid particles,

whose specific weight is higher than that of the 40 liquid are carried up from a channel to the other and finally into the overflow pipe, while the g vapor is brought into thorough and intimate contact with the liquid. Therefore accumulation of solid particles in'the channels and clogging of the openings e are prevented. For the rest this bubble plate system also comprises the realization of all the other aforesaid factors and conditions affecting the efflciency of the. system.

Relating to the course to be followed by the liquid in the column it will be noted that this course starts from the overflow pipe 0 of the upper plate in the direction of the arrows shown in full lines and the liquid is conducted by means of distributing pipes 0 into the external annular of the diameter of the overflow in relation to channel of the plate; from this channel the liquid flow s in a radial direction towards the centre of culate in a same manner on the plate next below.

Any solid particles are carried with the liquid downwards on all plates and are discharged at the bottom of the column. The course of the vapor which has been always above explained is indicated by dotted arrows.

In addition, a satisfactory single-direction cross current of the liquid in relation to the vapor is obtained on all bubble plates or partitions by the above described liquid supply arrangements. The resulting continuous progress of the rectification is of considerable importance as regards, the efficiency of the plate or partition as'compared with the irregular direction of the liquid involved by previous constructions. Furthermore, with this radial inward conduction of the liquid the harmful effect of the drop in level of the liquid upon the vapor distribution can be completely compensated even with quite large plates or partitions. The effect of the drop in level of the liquid on the plate or partition towards the overflow shows itself in an increase of the vaporquantity per unit of area in this direction.

This harmful effect is compensated in the said mode -of liquid'condu'ction with suitable choice the outer diameter of .the plate or partition, by the continual reduction in the width of the liquid path which this arrangement gives and the increasing specific flow inaccordance with the rate of the reduction. In this way a uniform passage of the liquid through the vapor is obtained automatically over the whole section of the plate or partition.

Inorder thatthe streamsof vapor oppositely directed do not provoke the upward entrainment of the liquid, the ring nozzles which are situated the one opposite the other must be placed at a suflicient distance the one from the other. The distance is in relation, as it is to be understood, with the width of the annular channels formed between two opposite chimneys. It has been found by experiment that this width must be at least as large as the height of the channels.

The size of the width of the channels is of very particular importance in connection with the successive overfall of the liquid down to the bottom of each channel. Experiments have proved that liquids which have a tendency to form with gas an abundant froth or ioani do not reach the bottom of the channels, as is desired and convenient, but pass along over the caps. For increasing the speed of the rectification process it is however of great importance that the froth or foam always again falls in liquid and that this liquid is again contacted with fresh vapor.-

The froth i. e. the mixture of gas and liquid must be separated into its elements during its flowing over the caps, that is in the period during which it is not subjected to a heat exchange, the vapor must flow upwards in a. dry state and the liquid must fall down to the bottom of the next channel in consequence of its restored density. The width of the liquid receiving channels and of. the caps must therefore be chosen large enough according to the tendency of the liquid mixture to form froth.

The column represented in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to the column represented in Figs. 1 and 2, in relation with its construction, but in this embodiment the chimneys 1t are of a frusto-conical form and the covering caps m are of a cylindrical form, each chimney and its corresponding cap constituting a bubbler unit, which, in contradistinction to the annular plate, is independent from parts of other bubbler units.

-W hatIclaimis:- 1. A bubble plate forcontacting gases and liquids in rectifying, washing and like columns, which comprises chimneys having side walls inclined downwardly to the horizontal bottom of the plate and curved surfaces into which run said side walls, said curved surfaces merging tangentially into the horizontal bottom of the plate, covering caps the side walls of which form with the side walls of the chimneys downwardly narrowing passages, vertical openings formed between the lower edges of the side walls of said caps and the curved surfaces of the chimneys; the horizontal distance between a chimney and the corresponding cap in the horizontal planeof the exit opening of said downwardly narrowing passage and comprising the lower edge of the side walls ofsaid caps, being sufliciently small for the gas issuing from said exit opening to form a thin inclined stream which is guided by the curved surface of the chimney after its issue from'the vertical opening formed between the lower: edge of the side walls of the caps and said curved surface and undersweeps the liquid along the horizontal bottom of the plate.

2. A bubble plate for contacting gases and liquids in rectifying, washing and like columns, which comprises chimneys having side walls inclined downwards to the horizontal bottom of the plate and a curved surface into which run said side walls, said curved surface merging tangentially into the horizontal bottom of the plate, covering caps the side walls of which form with the side walls of the chimneys a downwardly narrowing passage, said caps resting on the curved surface of the chimneys by means of apart distant projections, openings formed between said projections for the issue of the 'gas from the caps, the horizontal distance between a chimney and the corresponding cap in the horizontal plane of the exit opening of said downwardly narrowing passage and comprising the uppermost part of the edge of the openings formed between the projections of the caps being suiilciently small for the gas issuing from said exit opening to form a thin inclined stream which is guided by the curved surface of the chimney after its issue from the said openings formed between theprojections of the caps and un dersweeps the liquid along the horizontal bottom of the plate.

3. A bubble plate for contacting gases and liquids in rectifying, washing and like columns, which comprises chimneys having side walls inclined downwards to the horizontal bottom of the plate and a curved surface into which run said side walls, said curved surface merging tangentially into the horizontal bottom of the plate, covering caps the side walls of which form with the side walls of said chimneys a downwardly narrowing passage, said caps resting on the chimneys by means of apart distant projections, openings formed between said projections for the issue of the gas from the caps, the horizontal distance between a chimney and the corresponding cap in the horizontal plane of the exit opening of said downwardly narrowing passage and comprising the uppermost part of the edge of the openings formed between the projections of the caps being sufliciently small for the gas issuing from said exit opening to form a thin inclined stream which 1. plate. v

' elements having outwardly inclined side walls and 1 v curved suriaces between the horizontal bottom of isguidedbythscurvedsurhceottheehimnw aiteritsi'ssue tromthe saidopenings iormedbetween the projections of the caps and undersweeps the liquid among the horizontal bottom of the 4. A circular bubble plate for contacting gases and liquids in rectifying. washing and like columns, which comprises 'annular-trough-shaped the trough-shaped element and said side walls.

v said trough-shaped elements being disposed concentrically and separated'the one from the other to form annular chimneys having inclined side walls and curvedsurtaces merging into the horizontal bottom oi the trough-shaped elements, an: v nularcapsdisposed over the said chimneys. the

said annular caps resting on the chimneys by means of apart distant projections, openings formed between said projections for the issueoi the gas tromthe caps, bars extending radially 1 under the rlmntsl bottom of the ve t nular trough-shaped elements so as to bridge the r lower openings 01 the chimneys and flxedto said elements, bolts passing through the said bars,

' said chimneys and the top wall 01 the corresponding caps andmesns bearing on said bars and said the caps the g for contacting. gases and liq-' top walls .ior

5.1L bubble aids in rectifyins'. .washing and like columns. which comprises m sh-shaped elements having outwardly inclined side walls-and curved surfaces between the horlsontal bottom voi the trough-shaped element and; said side walls. said trough-shaped elements being disposed conoen and separated the one from the other to form chimneys having inclined. side walls andcurved intovthehonaontal' of the troughshaped elements, annular eaps disposed overthe'ssid chimneys.'the side. walls of thecaps-torming with the side walls of downwardly narrowing passages. a

formed between the lower horisontal edge of the side walls of the annular caps and the curved surfaces at the chimneys. the horiaontaldistanee'between a chimney and the corresponding cap in the horizontal plane oi the exit openings of said'downwardlynarrowing peskwalls 01 the annular-caps beingjsuiliciently small for the gas issuing from said. exit openings-to form thin inclined streams which are gulded'by the curved surtaces' oi the chimneys after their issue irom the vvertical opening formed between the lower edge'oi thelside walls of the annular caps and said curved and undersweep the liquid along the'horizontal bottomoithe trough-shaped elements. g Y

6. Abubble-plate for contacting gases and liq uids in rectifying. washing and like columns, which comprisesannular trough-shaped elements having outwardly inclined side walls and curved surfaces between the horizontal bottqn of the trough-shaped elements and said side walls, said trough-shaped elements being disposed concentric'allyandseparated the one from the other to races of the by means 'ofapartdistant' projections, openings romeo. between said pro- 'iections for the issue oi the gas from the caps,

the horizontal distance between a chimney a'n'd the. gas issuing from saidexit openings to form thin inclined streams which are guided by the,-

eurved oi thechimney aiter'their from the openings formed between the proiections of the caps andundersweep the liquid along the horizontal bottom of the trough-shaped elements'. extending radially under the horizontalbottom of the successive annular troughshaped elements so as to bridge the lower openingsoi the chimneys and fixed to said elements, bolts passing through the said bars, said chimneys-and the top wall of the corresponding caps andmeansbearingonsaidbarsandthetop wall 0! said caps for tightening'thecaps against the surfaces of the thecorresponding cap in-thehorisontallplane oi theexit openings of said downwardly narrowing passages and comprising the uppermost part oi! the edge of the openings formed between the pro-- iections oi the caps being suiiiciently small for 

